Life-saving device.



W. S. GROLEAU.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I. I9I7.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR WITNESSES Jfl0l66211 ATTORNEY To. all whom it may concern:

wrnrm s. eaonmu, or LA S-ALLE, rumors.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

Be it known that I, WILFRED' S. GRoLEAu, citizen of the United States, residin at La Salle, in the county of La Salle an State 'of' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life saving devices, and it more particularly relates to an im roved launching device for life boats.

gm of the objects of this invention is to provide a device of this character which. is operable for launching a life boat under such difliculties that render it ahnost impossible to safely launch a life boat by means of such devices that have heretofore been employed for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is substantially automatic in its operation, and which is thoroughly efiicient and safe for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages may. become apparent to persons who read the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view illustrating one form of the device which constitutes my invention: I i

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the means for detachably connecting the life boat and for connecting the boat-supporting structure to a crane or the like.

Fig. 3 is asomewhat modified form of the device from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, viewed at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail view of a portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 3; and i Fig. 5 is a detail view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, but viewed from the opposite side.

In these drawings, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 shows, somewhat conventionally, a life boat of ordinary construction which is not described in detail, as it comprises no part of my invention.

Upon the front and rear end of the life boat is secured a pair of bifurcated hook members 11, each pairof furcations 12 of which extend downward and receive there- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed September 7, 1917. Serial No. 190,201.

between a pin 14. Although but one of the members 11 and but one of the pins 14 is shown, it is to be understood that these elements 11 and 14 are duplicated at the opposite end of the bolt 10. Each pin 14 is provided with a head 15 which is normally positioned within one of the hooks 11, each of these pins being supported in horizontal position by means of a carrying frame which comprises a substantially V-shaped member 16, a segmental member 17, a rectilinear bar 18 and a bracket 19. The bar 18 and bracket 19 of each 'carryin frame are .apertured to provide a hearing or one of the pins 14, and each of these pins is apertured for the reception of a cotter pin 20. These cotter pins prevent accidental displacement of the pins 14. The'elements 16, 18 and 19 of each carrying frame are secured together by means of a pair of bolts 21, each bolt 21 extending through each of the elements 16, 18 and 19, of one of the carrying frames as shown in Fig.2.

The carrying frames are in spaced relation to one another and may be secured toether if desirable, by any, suitable means, or holdingthe frame sections in rigid relation to one another and combine therewith to constitute a cradle or carriage in which the life boat is suspended.

The modified form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 differs from that which is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, mainly in the means whereby the boat is attached to the carrier, and therefore, the carrying frames are substantially the same in both forms of the device; and, in the modified form, there is illustrated the cross brace rods or struts 22, .that unite the carrying elements into the cradle or carriage previously mentioned. In each form of the invention, the carrying frames are supported upon a railway which comprises spaced and parallel track rails 23 of ordinary construction except that they are curved downward at 24, over the side of a ship, so that a portion of the track is substantially horizontal, another portion is slightly inclined, another portion arcuate, and still another portion is substantially vertical.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the elements 17 each has its opposite end portions resting upon the rails at 25, so that the carrying frames may be easily slid along the track which extend below the bottoms o rails 23. However, it is not considered beyond the scope of this invention to provide wheels to roll upon the track rails 23 and support the carrying frames.

n order to prevent accidental disengagement of the carrying frames or carriage from the rails, I provide guide lates 26 the elements 17, while the frames 16 also extend below the bottom of the elements 17. Upon each 'of these extensions is secured a stop or keeper 27 Each of these keepers 27 projects under the head of the contiguous rail, so that the rail heads cooperate therewith for preventing displacement of the carriage when the latter moves over the curved portions 24 and the substantially vertical portions of the track rails.

Although I have shown but one end portion of the track, as in Fig. 1, illustrating the formation of the track where it curves over the side of a ship, it is to be understood that this track may extend entirely across the ship and be curved over the opposite sides thereof, so that the substantially level portion 23 of the track may support a large number of the carriages and the life boats supported thereby.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that this modified form dispenses with the hook elements 11, and substitutes therefor the apertured elements 11, through the apertures of which are engaged hooks 28, these hooks being supported by hooks 29,

' which latter are supported by plates 30. As

shown in Fig. 4, each plate 30 is provided with a hook 31, which latter are each engageable with any ordinary form-of crane or the like (not shown), for raising and lowering the carriages as they travel along the track 23, it being understood that the plates 30 arev each secured to one of the frame elements 16 by means of bolts or rivets 32. In this form of the device, I prefer to employ certain of the bolts 32 for securing an arm 33 to each of the frame elements 16, in order that the brace rods 22 may be supported thereby in position out of the way of the life boat when, it is supported by the carriage.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a device of great importance, and which is capable of very effectually fulfilling the purpose for which it is intended.

It is to be understood that the present embodiments of my invention are intended to display the broad idea of the invention involved therein, and that I do not limit my invention to these exact details of construction.

In operation, the boat having received its load of passengers, and the crane (previously mentioned, but not shown), having been attached, the carriage is now moved along the track elements 23, by any appropriate means, until it reaches the inclined portion including and adjacent to the curved element 24, whereupon, the carriages move by gravity over the inclined and vertical ortions of the track, while being controlled in its movement by means of the hooks 31, which latter are enga ed with the crane and, controlled thereby. t will be seen that the elements 11 and 29 are each pivotally engaged with their respective supports, and

therefore, when the carriage swings over the curved portion 23,from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position, the supporting elements 11 and 11 retain their vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the life boat 10 is always retained in its upright osition, and is held away from contact with the side of the ship, so as to prevent breakage of the boat by its collision with the ship, as sometimes occurs when the ship is storm-tossed, and when the ship is damaged to such an extent that it lists or leans to a considerable extent.

It will be seen that when the boat rests upon the water, its downward movement is thereby arrested, while the carriage continues its movement downward, is automatically unhooked from the boat, and continues its movement downward to the end of the track, whereupon, the carriage is stopped by any suitable means and thereby automatically unhooked from the crane. It will be seen, therefore, that if several cranes are employed, a number of the carriages, with their respective life boats, may be lowered in .rapid succession along each of the tracks,

from either side or both sides of the ship; and moreover, that if a number of the tracks are employed, and each provided with a number of the carriages and cranes, a large number of passengers and crewmay be safely launched in a very short space of time.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A life boat carrying device, comprising members for engaglng the heads of track rails, carrying frames attached to one side of said members and projecting to overlap the sides of the track rails, guide elements attached to the opposite side of said members and projecting along the sides of the track rails, keepers on the projecting ends of the carrying frames and guide elements to engage under the heads of the track rails, boat supportin members having bifurcated engaging hoo s, and elements on the carrying frames to pivotally and detachably engage the said bifurcated hooks.

2. A life boat carrying device comprising a pair of members each having its end portions bent downward and adapted to rest upon a track and to move therealong, a pair of supporting members each secured emons I 8' to one of the first said members and extendsaid carrying device to move along said ing thereabove and therebelow,.fa pair of track fiivotal supports for the life boat, a pair of In testimony whereof I aflix my signaooks for connecting the carrying device 'ture in presence of two witnesses.

5 with a crane or the like and means eoiiper- WILFRED S. GROLEAU.

ative with the lower extensions of said sup- 7 Witnesses: porting members for securing said carrying W. P. Len CLAIRE, device on a railway track while allowing FRANK K'ABLE. 

